Burlington Free Press

YOUNG SCOUNDRELS.—The following piece of mischief, described in a letter from Pittsfield, Ms. to the editor of the Northampton Courier, exceeds in daring juvenile villany, any thing we ever read. The Canada papers will undoubtedly charge it upon the U. S. Government, as a step in aid of the patriots,

Last Thursday night, we experienced one of the most terrific explosions ever witnessed here. It appeared that the Powder Magazine, containing 800 lbs. of powder, was fired by some daring villains, and the damage it did was truly terrible. The magazine was situated in the burying ground, nearly in the centre of the village, and every building within 100 rods was more or less injured. One house, of brick, owned by N. Strong, about 5 rods from the Magazine, was damaged about $600.—The roof was very much shattered—windows all broken in—the walls moved some inches—the barns and sheds nearly prostrated, &c. The large brick school house was also considerably injured; sash, windows and doors broken in—fences and wood. house prostrated—bricks were driven through the walls stones weighing 500 weight were carried 10 or 12 rods. The Congregational, Baptist and Episcopal Churches, Town House, Medical Institution and Boarding house, had most of the windows, sash and all, broken in. The damage of the Medical Institution is irreparable. The Museum attached, which is considered one of the most valuable in the United States, is very much injured, many of the wax figures. skeletons, &c. being shivered in pieces. The Hotel of Warriner & Russels, Hotel of L. Brown, Buel & Colly's store, Howard's store, printing office of P. Allen & Son, were also very much injured, besides many dwelling houses. And it is a miracle that there was no one killed. It causes a great deal of excitement; several have been arrested under suspicion. The boys in the village have been engaged, all summer, in every kind of mischief, such as firing cannon in the night, &c.&c. and probably the same ones have fired the magazine. The trial comes on to day, and if it can be proved against them it will surely be hard business for them. Pittsfield village looks gloomy with the windows all out of the buildings, and others prostrated, The loss is estimated at 5,000. The noise of the explosion was heard 14 miles or more.